Dane County leads state in population growth

New U.S. Census Bureau figures show Dane County led the state in population growth in 2018.

The county added 5,584 people, accounting for a quarter of the state’s growth last year. Overall, Wisconsin gained about 21,500 residents to remain the 20th most populous state.

Waukesha County was second in population gain with about 2,000 people. Milwaukee County, Wisconsin’s most populated, lost about 2,400 residents.

The State Journal reports that since the beginning of the decade, just over half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties have grown, adding about 147,000 people. The rest, mainly rural counties to the north, saw a combined decline of about 19,500 residents.